Pakistan court restrains temple demolition in Karachi

A court in Pakistan has restrained a military estates officer and the administration of the port city of Karachi from demolishing a pre-Partition era temple.

The Sindh High Court Saturday issued an order restraining the demolition of the Shri Rama Pir Mandir in the Soldier Bazaar area, the News International reported Sunday.

The order came on a petition filed by Ram Chander, a resident in the temple premises, who challenged the demolition of the temple and its adjoining quarters and took to courtthe military estates officer, police and a private builder.

The petitioner's counsel told the court that families of worshippers lived in the compound of the temple constructed more than 100 years ago, and that the property was duly notified by the Evacuee Trust of Properties.

He said the the private builder in connivance with the authorities was trying to encroach on the temple land.